Polytech Grenoble team, supported by the Foundation Garches, has been awarded prize of technical innovation for AmiWheel flesh. Dedicated to the improvement of the movements of the persons in wheelchairs, this project mixes both hardware and software aspects.
The AmiWheelChair project is a double feature in the H challenge. The first lies in the composition of the Polytech Grenoble team hosting the only woman, Solis Nahum, all of these teams in the competition. Another specificity, this adventure mixes both hardware and software. It is to assistance and follow-up of disabled person travelling with a manual wheelchair or electric assistance on its places of life (housing, work, urban site, public transit) using computer technologies.
Within the team, each had a well defined role. “On the hardware part, a person has been in charge of placing sensors on a wheelchair, to measure the activity of the muscles of the arm, speed, acceleration and inclination in the course of the person,” said Quentin Morcou, served to postpone for the duration of the competition. This was the essential first step to retrieve actionable data for the part of the team responsible for the software part. The latter have therefore worked in a second time on the analysis of data and the creation of an application under Android (AMODroid) destined for patients, but also doctors. Quentin Morcou ensures that an iOS version is planned, but “it became easier to develop under Android which is in Open Source”
Data from the sensors are sent by Bluetooth by the smartphone of the patient to a database, which is then used to the mobile application to send specific information. For example, a GPS module allows the person to locate and to indicate the obstacles on a map. These data will be accessible by other users on the server. Didier Pradon, of the Foundation Garches, was very impressed with the first version of the project and the application, “there has been good taking account of the needs of patients and the problems of wheelchair accessible”.
Want To Go Further
Beyond the technical aspects, the Group Polytech Grenoble discovered the sacrifice of a few weekends and evenings on the project, juggling their university studies. “We exchanged many emails and the school has provided a room for our meetings between noon and two” said Quentin Morcou. The coach of Sogeti, Benjamin Franchini, is proud of work, “technically, they are very good” and steered his advice to project management. He also had the advantage of being a former graduate of Polytech Grenoble.
If the team is very pleased to have been awarded, the AmiWheelchair adventure should continue. “We delivered a first version of our application which was an assessment of the needs of patients, we are now working on a v2 with a view to creating a more operational application,” explains Quentin Morcou. And why step to create a business around this project or to a partnership…
Recent Comments